Distributing device for articles,particularly luggage

ABSTRACT

AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR OF THE LUGGAGE CIRCULATING TYPE AS USED IN AIRPORTS AND THE LIKE COMPRISES AN ARTICULATED SERIES OF LUGGAGE SUPPORTING PLATES WHICH OVERLAP EACH OTHER ROOF SHINGLE FASHION AND PRESENT A TRAVELLING PLATFORM WHICH IS TRANVERSELY INCLINED FOR READY LUGGAGE PICK-UP AND GAP-FREE IN THE LINEAR AS WELL AS IN THE CURVED STRETCHES OF THE CNVERYOR.

Nov. 7, 1972 E. FRAENZKE 3,702,130

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1

INVENTOR [/g /VA'JT FQAf/I/Zkf ZWM Nov. 7, 1972 E. FRAENZKE 3,702,130

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 2 v j 1 52 Y :i N S 2 Fig.2

Nov. 7, 1972 a. FRAENZKE 3,702,130

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR [SF/V537 fMfA/ZKE BY M 77% Nov. 7, 1972 E. FRAENZKE Filed March 15, 1971 3crb 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 U MR INVENTOR f 13 1 55 7 FP/ff/VZKA ZWM Arr'y Nov. 7, 1972 E. FRAENZKE 3,702,130

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1971 Z 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.7

1N VEN TOR Nov. 7, 1972 r E. FRAENZKE 3,702,130

DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY LUGGAGE Filed March 15, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 i \E 1* i x a I g \N /J I s \U (I) 4 Ln 0', L:

IN V EN TOR 53/1 5457 fmf/vzA f- U.S. Cl. 198-181 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An endless con-veyor of the luggage circulating type as used in airports and the like comprises an articulated series of luggage supporting plates which overlap each other roof shingle fashion and present a traveling platform which is transversely inclined for ready luggage pick-up and gap-free in the linear as well as in the curved stretches of the conveyor.

The invention relates to a device for distributing articles, particularly luggage, incorporating an endless conveyor belt of ring-like, preferably oval outline in plan, which is transversely inclined upwardly toward the ring center, guide tracks extending along the edges of the belt, and a feeder device which deposits the articles upon the surface of the conveyor belt.

A distributing device of the mentioned character has heretofore been known wherein a conveyor belt consists of two fabric bands which are connected to each other, and wherein stiffening rods extend between the bands transversely to the direction of belt travel. In the curvature zones of the guide tracks, these stiffening rods adjust themselves radially with respect to the curvature center so that the fabric bands are folded accordion fashion and the folding depth increases in the direction from the outer towards the inner belt edge. Smaller articles or projections of larger articles are frequently pinched within the folds which are formed in the curvature zones of the conveyor guide track so that, aside from the danger of damage, there is the further disadvantage that the articles cannot slide automatically as intended toward the lower belt edge. The heretofore known distributing device is used especially for the sorting of luggage, baggage and the like in sea or airports, railroad stations and customs halls for the arriving and departing passenger baggage and, therefore, handles which may project from suitcases or other baggage or loose belt ends are pinched within the folds of the conveyor belt so that considerable damage may result to the baggage as well as to the distributing device and at least the clearing of the baggage is delayed, the cause being essentially the alternate narrowing and widening of the gaps.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved distributing device of the mentioned character which is simple in construction, trouble free in operation,

.and wherein damage of the device by the articles as well as damage of the articles themselves and delay of the baggage distribution is avoided.

This object is accomplished by forming the conveyor belt of mutually overlapping plate elements which are relatively shiftable within limits and which cover the entire belt surface within the curvature zones as well as in an assumed condition of linear development or stretch.

Accordingly, the conveyor belt of the distributing device of the present invention consists of plate elements which are disposed in slightly stepped, over-lapping relation to each other affording a gap-free conveying surface not only in the straight, but also in the curved zones of the "United States Patent 3,702,130 Patented Nov. 7, 1972 guide track, on which the articles are not pinched and can therefore readily slide into the range of the lower belt edge. Damage of the conveyor belt by the articles as well as damage of the latter and delay of the distributing 5 process are thus positively eliminated.

It is further of advantage if the plate elements of the conveyor belt are individually shaped in the form of a non-equilateral parallelogram with its short sides extending generally in the instantaneous direction of the belt and whose relatively adjacent long sides, respectively overlie and underlie each other in roof shingle fashion in the zones of mutual overlap. This arrangement of the plate elements makes it possible to apply the conveyor belt to a guide track with smaller curvature radii without adversely affecting the gap-free character of the conveyor belt surface.

:In this connection, it is of advantage to provide each individual parallelogram shaped plate element in proximity to the regions of maximum overlap with its adjacent plate elements with a marginal shelf portion underlying one of said adjacent plate elements the shelf portion being formed by a generally Z-shaped offset which includes a riser portion at least as high as the plate thickness; and each plate element further having a downwardly angled marginal blade portion which overlies the other of said adjacent plate elements. Due to such configuration of the plate elements, the article supporting outer surface portions of the plate elements blend nearly without steps in the curvature zones of the guide track.

In a preferred form of construction of the device, the marginal blade portion at the long side of the plate element, farthest away from the Z-shaped offset, has a depth exceeding the plate thickness and is directed reversely relative to the Z-shaped offset. The blade portion at said long side is preferably formed, at least in part, of composition material providing a lip. Here again, the result is a substantially gap-free conveying surface in the curvature zones of the guide track; and in operation, the composition lips of the angularly offset long sides of the plate elements may slide with little friction and noiselessly on the underlying portions of the adjacent plate element. In case of wear, the composition lips may be replaced when necessary with a minimum expenditure of time and costs. It is further of advantage if the composition lip bears under pretension upon the surface of the plate element coacting therewith. As a result, no gaps will develop under any circumstances, even in the curves. It is further to be noted that on each plate element, the long side which is underlapped by an adjacent plate element, and the short side which is the radially outer side in the ring form of the belt are relatively disposed at an angle which is reduced from degrees to such an extent that the underlapped long side has about the same length as the Z-shaped offset. In other words, each plate element consists of a first trapezoidal portion having legs of approximately equal length, and a second trapezoidal portion completing said first trapezoidal portion to a parallelogram, the first of said trapezoidal portions overlapping the respective adjacent plate element, while the second of said trapezoidal portions is overlapped by the adjacent plate element. As a result, the conveyor belt presents a substantially continuous outer edge not only in its linear, but also in its cur-ved stretches.

In order to provide an accurate and substantially radial positioning of the plate elements in the curvature zones of the guide track, the short sides of the plate elements which in the ring form of the conveyor belt are the outer sides, are each guided at two relatively spaced guide points thereof within the guide track which is associated with the outer edge of the conveyor belt, the outer end zones of relatively adjacent plate elements being in a condition of generally constant overlap.

In order to also insure an accurate positioning of the inner short sides of the plate elements, and particularly during their maximum overlap in the curvature zones of the guide track, the guide track which is associated with the inner belt edge may be equipped with two generally parallel support rails on different levels, and load carriers, such as caster rollers may be arranged to overhang the upper and lower regions of relatively adjacent plate elements on difierent levels at opposite sides of the Z-shaped offset, the carriers being supported respectively in said rails for movement past each other therealong. Structurally, it is also possible to provide a single rail extending in one plane in order to support the plate elements.

In a preferred construction of the distributing device, the feeder installation comprises at least one pair of conveyors which are arranged in T-forming relation to each other, the conveyor which forms the cross beam of the T being disposed between relatively opposite inner edge zones of the conveyor belt and being operable selectively in one direction or the other. This feeder arrangement makes it possible when one half of the conveyor belt is fully loaded to deposit the articles by reversal of the cross conveyor upon the other half of the conveyor belt. The distributing capacity of the system is thereby materially enlarged and may further be increased if in addition to the one pair of feeder conveyors a further pair of feeder conveyors is installed and displaced relative to the one pair in the direction of linear feed of the distributing conveyor.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a distributing device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective viewon an enlarged scale of a plate element of the conveyor belt which is associated with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section along the line IVIV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section along the line V-V in- FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section along line VI--VI in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a detail at VII in FIG. 5; and

FIG. '8 is an enlarged section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1.

A device as shown in the drawings is particularly adapted for the distributing of articles (not shown), particularly luggage, which are delivered by a feeder device having conveyors 1, 1a, 2, 2a and which presents them for ready pick-up by their respective owners. The device comprises an endless conveyor belt 3 of ring-like configuration as viewed in plan, with a transverse upward inclination toward the ring center, and guide tracks 4 and 5 which are associated with the belt edge zones. The conveyors 1, 1a, 2, 2a of the feeder device deposit the articles or luggage upon the conveyor belt surface which may be circulated, for instance, in the direction of the arrow 6 by suitable propelling means (not shown) for the conveyor belt.

The conveyor belt3 is composed of plate elements 3a which overlap each other in roof shingle fashion and which are each shaped as shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a nonequilateral parallelogram.

The plate elements 3a of the conveyor belt 3 are disposed so that their short sides extend approximately in the instantaneous direction of the belt and respectively overlie and underlie each other with their relatively adjacent long sides. The range of relative shifting movement of the plate elements 3a of the conveyor belt which overlie, respectively underlie each other is so limited that they cover the entire areaof the conveyor belt 3, gap-free not only within the curvature zones of the guide tracks 4 and 5, but also in an assumed condition of linear development or stretch.

The parallelogram shaped plate elements 3a of the conveyor belt 3 each present an approximately Z-shaped oifset in proximity to the region of maximum overlap with one of its adjacent plate elements 3. As illustrated by FIG. 3, the Z-shaped offsetincludes a riser portion 3ab and a marginal shelf portion UB which projects upward to. a height at least equal to the plate thickness and it extends from the end zone of the plates short side which is supported on the guide track 4 to the mid-zone of the plates short side which is supported on the guide track 5.

The long side of each plate element farthest away from the Z-shaped offset, presents a downwardly angled marginal blade portion 3ac which as illustrated by FIG. 3, corresponds to but is reversed relative to the riser portion 3ab of the Z-shaped offsetand is essentially of a height exceeding the plate thickness.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the blade portion 3110, as constructed for industrial use of the device is formed at least in part by a replaceable composition lip Sac. As may further be seen in FIG. 3, each plate element 3a has a long side which is underlapped by one of the two neighboring plate elements, and a short side which is the outer side in the ring form of the conveyor belt and which together with the underlapped long side form an angle at which is reduced from degrees to such an extent that the underlapped long side has about the same lengths as the Z-shaped offset 3ab.

Each plate elements thus consists of a first trapezoidal portion with legs of approximately equal length, and of a second trapezoidal portion which completes the first trapezoidal portion to a parallelogram.

As shown in FIG. 8, the short side of the plate elements 3a which in the ring form of the conveyor belt are the outer sides are guided at two relatively spaced guide points LP (see FIG. 3) in the guide track 4 which is associated with the outer edge zones of the belt, the arrangement being such that the overlapped condition in the outer end zones of the mutually overlapping plate elements is substantialy constant. Each plate element is guided at its guide points LP by an associated endless flexible drive member such as an endles chain 7 whose pitch corresponds to the plate pitch of the conveyor belt. The drive chain which consists of the links and intermediate members therebetween, is adapted to move in an arcuate path and is guided in a chain channel 4a of cruciform cross section in the guide track 4a. A support roller 7a of the drive chain is housed in each of the four cross sectional grooves of the chain channel 4a. An assembly of four support rollers 7a is mounted on each of the intermediate chain members which are interposed between successive chain links in twistable relation thereto.

As may further been seen from FIG. 8, the guide track 5 which is associated with the inner edge zone of the conveyor belt 3 may have two support rails 5a, 5b, which extend generally parallel on difierent levels. Load carriers such as caster rollers 8, 9 which are connected to each plate element in overhanging relation thereto support the plate elements movably on the rails 5, 5a at different levels at both sides of the Z-shaped offset 3a. The rollers 8, 9 are arranged in such a manner that the lower roller 8 of each plate element 3a may move past the upper roller 9 of the overlapping adjacent plate element 3a in the direction of the rail, so that the mutual overlapping of the plate elements 3a in the curvature zones of the guide tracks 4 and Sis not impeded.

Within the outer region of the conveyor belt 3, a barrier 10 extends around the latter, and padding 10a at the inner side of the barrier is swingably connected with the individual plate elements.

As already mentioned hereinbefore, the feeder device of the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises two convyor pairs 1, 1a, 2, 2a, the conveyors of each pair being arranged in T-forming relation to each other and the cross beams of the Ts being arranged between relatively opposite inner edge zones of the conveyor 3. Each of the cross beam conveyors is operable selectively in opposite directions as is symbolically indicated by the double headed arrows 11 in FIG. 1.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated details of construction, particularly with respect to the plate elements 3a of the conveyor belt 3. Conceivably, the feeder device may comprise only one or more than two conveyor pairs, and/or the conveyor belt 3 may be guided in its course with different degrees of lateral inclination with respect to the guide tracks 4 and 5.

The endless conveyor course as viewed in plan may take a triangular or polygonal shape, in which case the corners would be suitably rounded. Also irregular shapes of the conveyor course would be possible.

I claim:

1. A distributing device for articles, particularly luggage, comprising an endless conveyor belt of ring-like, preferably oval, outline in plan which is transversely inclined upward toward the ring center, guide tracks associated with the edge zones of said conveyor belt, and a feeder mechanism which deposits the articles upon the conveyor belt surface, said conveyor belt comprising an endless flexible drive member, an assembly of successive non-equilateral parallelogram shaped plate elements connected to said drive member and each having a generally Z-shaped offset affording a riser portion and a lowered marginal shelf portion at one of its long sides and, at the other of its long sides, a downwardly angled marginal blade portion; said shelfand blade-portions of each plate member, in the assembled condition of the conveyor belt being respectively overlapped and underlapped by the blade-and shelf portions of adjacent plate elements.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the riser portion of said Z-shaped offset is at least as high as the thickness of the plate element.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the depth of said downwardly angled blade portion exceeds the thickness of the plate element.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said downwardly angled blade portion consists, at least in part, of composition material presenting a lip.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said composition lip bears under pre-tension upon the underlying shelf portion of the adjacent plate element.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blade portion of each plate element and the short side thereof which is in the ring form of the conveyor belt is at the outer edge of the latter, form an angle which is reduced from degrees to such an extent that said blade portion has about the same length as said Z-shaped offset.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the Z-shaped offset of each plate element extends from one end region of said outer short side to the mid region of the inner short side of the plate element.

8 A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the short sides of the plate elements, which in the ring form of the conveyor belt are at its outer edge, are each guided at least at two relatively spaced guide points within the guide track associated with the outer edge zone of the conveyor belt and operatively connected to said drive member so as to provide for substantially constant overlap of the outer end regions of relatively adjacent plate elements.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide track, which is associated with the inner edge zone of the conveyor belt, is provided with two generally parallel support rails on different levels, and wherein carriers, such as caster rollers, overhang the upper and lower regions of relatively adjacent plate elements on different levels at opposite sides of the Z-shaped oifset, said carriers being supported, respectively on said rails for movement past each other therealong.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,219,724 10/1940 Quick 19818l 3,361,249 1/1968 Cadman l98---2O9 2,147,469 2/1939 Tallman 19881 2,808,146 10/1957 Leach 198-177 R RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner 

